Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson erupts at reporter over ‘illegal aliens’ term
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recently made headlines after a heated exchange with a reporter during a press briefing. The reporter used the term “illegal aliens” which prompted Johnson to slam the phrase as “racist” and “nasty.”
In a video posted on Instagram, the reporter asked Johnson about a report on city spending related to “illegal aliens” in Chicago. Johnson immediately pushed back on the language, stating, “We don’t have illegal aliens. I don’t know if that’s from some sort of sci-fi message that you wish you’ve had… Well listen, the legal term for my people were slaves. You want me to use that term too? So, look, let’s just get the language right. We’re talking about undocumented individuals that are human beings.”
The mayor emphasized that he would not tolerate “racist, nasty language to describe human beings.” He then shifted the conversation to his administration’s spending priorities, highlighting a $16.7 billion budget that focuses on education, transportation, housing, environmental justice, youth employment, and community safety.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal also supported Johnson’s remarks, emphasizing that immigration violations are not criminal offenses. She stated, “It is very important that people in Illinois and across the country understand the immigration system is a civil system. Undocumented presence in the United States is not a criminal offense.”
Johnson has been vocal in defending Chicago’s immigration policies and criticizing President Donald Trump’s approach to crime and border enforcement. In a previous news conference, he condemned Trump’s crackdown on crime, stating, “Jails and incarceration and law enforcement is a sickness that has not led to safe communities.”
Last week, three illegal immigrants and six U.S. citizens were arrested in the Chicago area as part of Operation Midway Blitz, a DHS initiative targeting criminal illegal aliens. The operation was launched in honor of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a drunk driving hit-and-run allegedly caused by an illegal immigrant.
The Chicago mayor’s office and Rep. Pramila Jayapal did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Fox News Digital’s reporting team contributed to this article.
This rewritten content seamlessly integrates into a WordPress platform, providing a unique perspective on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s stance on immigration and highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the use of language in discussions about undocumented individuals.
